Losing Weight and Living Healthier (My Must Haves!!)
Hey there, friends! 🌟 If you’re like me, trying to juggle a busy working mom life while staying healthy definitely feels like a struggle. But I’ve found that with a little consistency, the right tools, and a positive mindset, I’m finally making progress toward my health goals.
I’ve struggled with weight my whole life, especially after having a kiddo, and I always thought the only way to lose weight was by sticking to a drastic diet and cutting out food I love completely. WRONG!!
Today, I’m excited to share the things I’m doing to lose weight, get stronger, and feel better overall. I’ll also be sharing some amazing tools that have really helped me stay on track. Whether you’re looking to lose weight, improve your fitness, or just live a healthier lifestyle, I hope these tips will inspire you to take small steps toward your health goals too!
1. Walking My Way to a Healthier Me
One of the most important habits I’ve incorporated into my routine is walking. Sounds simple, right? It is! You don’t need to turn into a gym girlie if you don’t want to. Don’t underestimate the power of a good walk! I try to get my steps in outside, but I typically end up using my walking pad, walking is a low-impact exercise that will help you burn calories and get your heart rate up without feeling like you’re doing a hardcore workout.
Throw on your fave music or a good show and get those steps in! I love using my walking pad while I work or watch TV. It’s a game-changer for staying active even when I’m busy. Plus, it’s convenient, quiet, and takes up minimal space—so it’s perfect for at home workouts!
2. Adding Intensity with a Weighted Vest
A great little secret to up the ante a little bit, I highly recommend adding a weighted vest to your walking or workout routine. I was hesitant at first, but it’s amazing how much of a difference it makes. The extra weight forces my body to work harder, which means I’m burning more calories and building strength.
3. Strength Training with Dumbbells
While cardio is important, I know strength training is essential for building muscle and revving up my metabolism. I’ve recently added a set of dumbbellsto my routine. Incorporating some simple dumbbell exercises into my day—like squats, lunges, and bicep curls—has made me feel stronger and more toned. It doesn’t take much, but the impact has been huge in terms of feeling more confident in my body. I aim for just 20–30 minutes a few times a week, and that’s been enough to start seeing results!
4. Staying Hydrated with My Favorite Water Bottle
I’ll be the first to admit that I struggle with drinking enough water. But staying hydrated is a HUGE part of any weight loss or health journey. I’ve found that having a water bottle I love has made a big difference.
I like this water bottle, I find the indicator lines gives me that push I need to keep drinking my water and stay hydrated. Plus, it’s cute (who doesn’t love a cute water bottle?), and the fact that I can easily track how much water I’m drinking in a day keeps me motivated too.
5. Tracking your Calories
I used to think in order to lose weight I had to cut out all of my favorite food. But that’s not the case! Weight loss is very much calories in vs. calories out. You need to be in a deficit to lose weight. You can still eat the things you love as long as you remain in a calorie deficit!
I highly recommend using an app like My Fitness Pal to track your food. This has really opened my eyes to how much I was over eating. Some foods are very high in calories!! Tracking my calories has helped me to stop and think, I’m getting better at choosing more whole foods, or healthier options for my fave snacks and meals.
To determine your calorie deficit, utilize a TDEE calculator to find our your maintenance calories. Aim to eat 500 to 600 calories less than your maintenance calories to be in a calorie deficit.
6. Utilizing FREE resources
When I first started incorporating workouts into my routine, I LOVED Grow with Jo on YouTube. her videos are easy to follow and they make cardio FUN!! I highly recommend starting with her videos if you’re new to working out. She has everything from walking workouts, dance workouts, dumbell and more. I still utilize her videos for some of my cardio movement, along with my walking pad.
Losing weight and living a healthier life isn’t about drastic changes or overnight transformations. It’s about making small, sustainable changes and sticking with them. For me, all of the above has been key to bettering my lifestyle. It’s also extremely important to me to lead by example and teach my daughter that we need to love and prioritize ourselves in all stages of life!
If you’re looking to start your own health journey or just want to add some new tools to your routine, I highly recommend checking out everything I’ve mentioned. They’ve made a real difference in my day-to-day routine, and I think they could help you too!
Thanks for reading, I’m rooting for you on your journey to health and happiness. If you have any questions or want to chat more about my fitness routine, drop a comment below!
Until next time, Stephanie Mama and Her Little 💖
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